This Washington
McKenna Complains that Western Washington is Ignoring Rural Gang Problem
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna—frustrated that his gang bill appears to be stalled—circulated a KOMO story
today on a gang-related murder in Seattle.
McKenna's point: Wake up, Seattle.
In the email, McKenna writes:
Although McKenna's comments are couched in his off-putting politicized jab at liberal Western Washington elites who supposedly talk a big game on race and social justice issues, but are really just selfish brats, he does have some eye-opening info here: Gangs are a small town problem.
His point is confirmed by the numbers: Seattle's violent crime rate has plummeted in recent years—only nine of the 28 homicides in 2008 were gang-related and last year, Seattle's homicide rate dropped to an all-time low, 19, with less than ten being gang-related.
By comparison, check out the stats in gang-plagued Eastern Washington cities like Yakima: 17 gang-related homicides in 2010. According to KIMA-TV in Yakima, there's been a 100 percent jump in murders between 2006 and 2009. And Dan Sytman, McKenna's spokesman, points out that number doesn't even include the 13 murders so far this year.
The bill's sponsor is Rep. Charles Ross (R-14, Yakima County). We have a call in to his office.
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, oppose the bill because it gives local law enforcement the power to get court orders against people without criminal records who communities merely suspect of being in gangs, allowing police to do things such as impose curfews; bar suspects from associating with other suspected gang members; stop them from wearing gang clothing; and prevent them from hanging out in suspect spots or talking to school kids. If they’re caught doing any of those things, they’re on their way to having a criminal record, the ACLU complains.
McKenna's point: Wake up, Seattle.
In the email, McKenna writes:
There have been dozens of gang crimes reported since the 2011 legislative session began. Yet our anti-gang bill, remains bottled up, where some lawmakers hope it will die quietly.
The simple truth is many of the victims of gang violence are from communities of color east of the mountains. Those in power primarily represent Western Washington where gang violence has not yet reached the same high level.
Although McKenna's comments are couched in his off-putting politicized jab at liberal Western Washington elites who supposedly talk a big game on race and social justice issues, but are really just selfish brats, he does have some eye-opening info here: Gangs are a small town problem.
His point is confirmed by the numbers: Seattle's violent crime rate has plummeted in recent years—only nine of the 28 homicides in 2008 were gang-related and last year, Seattle's homicide rate dropped to an all-time low, 19, with less than ten being gang-related.
By comparison, check out the stats in gang-plagued Eastern Washington cities like Yakima: 17 gang-related homicides in 2010. According to KIMA-TV in Yakima, there's been a 100 percent jump in murders between 2006 and 2009. And Dan Sytman, McKenna's spokesman, points out that number doesn't even include the 13 murders so far this year.
The bill's sponsor is Rep. Charles Ross (R-14, Yakima County). We have a call in to his office.
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, oppose the bill because it gives local law enforcement the power to get court orders against people without criminal records who communities merely suspect of being in gangs, allowing police to do things such as impose curfews; bar suspects from associating with other suspected gang members; stop them from wearing gang clothing; and prevent them from hanging out in suspect spots or talking to school kids. If they’re caught doing any of those things, they’re on their way to having a criminal record, the ACLU complains.
